plainsman1963

Ok, so I keep seeing folks debating different methods of germination and since I am firing up my grow room again, I thought I would take the time to show my personal favorite germ method.

When I first started out, I tried the paper towel method. TBH, I hated it.

First, trying to keep the towels moist, but not too moist and then trying to extract the germed seeds from the soggy mess when ready was a real PITA for this particular grower.

I don't remember where I first heard of the cup of water method, but I decided to try it and I fell in love with the hands off, no attention needed aspect of this particular method.

So, first I put some water in a cup. Just regular old tap water, not ice cold yet not warm either. I like to call it tepid.
Basically as close to room temperature as I can guesstimate.

Next I throw some seeds in the cup of water.

Now, I want to apologize for the lack of quality in regards to the pictures I am about to show. I have a cheap under $50 dollar digital and to get good quality pics requires a lot of picture taking, stair climbing, computer uploading, stair descending, picture taking, stair climbing...etc.

TBH, I have better things to do with my time. So as long as you can recognize the visual and it illustrates what I am trying to say...I call it good.

First, here are the seeds right after I place them in the cup:

and


I then place the cup in a dark closet on a shelf in room temperature (70-72 degrees) and forget about them overnight.

The next morning (12 hours later) I look at the cups and see how many have sunk. Any still floating I dunk with my finger to see if they will sink.

Past experience has told me that any floaters are not going to be viable.

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Plains

"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve."
- George Bernard Shaw

plainsman1963

24 hours after they sink (for those keeping score at home, that is 36 hours after placing the seeds in the cup initially), I check to see if any have germinated.

If the seeds have cracked and I can see the white "tap root", I consider that a successful germination. I do not necessarily wait for the root to grow. But I have and that is one thing that is nice about this, there aren't many time constraints with this method.



Now they are ready to be planted in the medium of your choice. My medium of choice is soil.

I realize that the seeds do not need light to break ground, but I start them under light anyway. My reasoning being, I don't update myself on their progress every 10 minutes or so like I did when starting out and I want them to be greeted with 1000 watts of HPS sunlight the minute they poke their pretty little heads above ground.

So, I have my HPS 36 inches above the pots and warming the soil as they develop their root system and reach for the skies.

2 and 1/2 days after planting, the first sprouts appear. So from start to finish is 4 days. 4 days of very little attention. I can continue my life and not worry about what they are doing.



I know that last pic is hard to see, but they are there. Right now I count 13 sprouts starting to unfold with the possibility of 5 more coming in the next day or two.

In the next day or two, I will take another pic to show them completely unfolded.

Everybody has their own style of germinating and that is fine. For me personally, I love this method because there is very little fuss or muss and it is pretty fool proof (and there is many a time I have been a fool).

Now in the interest of fairness, there is one downside that I have noticed. The shell seems to harden more with this method, which requires me to sometimes have to remove the shell casing to release the little buggers so they can unfold fully.
Harrowing the first few times, but now it is just a simple pinch and a gentle pull and they are good to go.

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__________________
Good Growing,
Plains

"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve."
- George Bernard Shaw

cheapbastard

great info and pics bro.

i have done the cup of water germ method and had great results myself pretty much did it the same way and allso had to help them a bit at birth

peace

TokaJay

I have some "slightly dated" genetics I am going to try this on.

Thanks Plains!

TJ

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moneymark

ive always presoaked my beans for 4-6 hours before putting them in the paper towel.
i will definitely try this next time
what was the germ rate? were you 18/18? i think i counted 18 in a pic.

plainsman1963

There were actually 23 seeds put in the cups. But I only have 18 6 inch pots so 5 that hadn't germed yet were just thrown out.

Right now I have 15 that have broke ground. I still have hopes for the other 3.

__________________
Good Growing,
Plains

"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve."
- George Bernard Shaw

plainsman1963

Ok, 15 is going to be the final count.

Haven't quite got this "starting them under a 1000 watt hps" thing down yet either.
36 inches was too far away. They grew legs on me.

Now the light is at 24 inches and hopefully the stems will toughen up with the fan blowing on them so they don't keel over.

Anyway, here's the last shot for this germination thread. I would highly recommend this style of germination if you favor a hands off approach to growing.

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__________________
Good Growing,
Plains

"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve."
- George Bernard Shaw

Profound

Really nice way of germination Plainsman.....
I think I first discovered the method by accident
I went to soak some beans overnite and had to stay out of town for 3 days.
When I got back .....TAP ROOTS and the seed husk was off of 5 out of 10.

So I developed a twist to germination as you do.
I use 1/2 cup of water
1 teaspoon of H2O2
1 drops of Superthrive
cover with plastic wrap sealing the cup and allowing this
to sit in my drawer for 24-72 hours.....
Ive maintained 98% germination rate thus far.

I'll call it Plainsman1963 Germination w/ a twist


....bump....this thread up to stay noticed

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The Professor

great info, i will deffinatly try this method as im not the hugest fan of the paper towel.

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J_B

What about heat? Would it help to have the cup in a warm area like the paper towel methode? or would the water just evaporate? Also what kind of water would be best? I been using waterbottle water cause its ultra pure or something, or should I use tap water? Cause I started germinating with paper towel and its been almost the whole weekend and they havn't germed, could I still transfer them to the cup? just some questions to complete the topic lol